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Nobody has to remind Lance Dunbar that blocking isn’t his forte.
“It’s a fact,” the 5-foot-8, 188-pound Dallas Cowboys running back said. “I am a little guy.”
But his lack of size doesn’t mean he isn’t willing to shoulder the chore.
“I don’t back down from anyone,” he said after a recent practice in Oxnard, Calif. “I’m up to the challenge. I’m not scared to stick my nose in there and hit somebody.”
That was evident Tuesday when Dunbar and linebacker Ernie Sims engaged in the first fight of camp.
“I got to protect myself,” said Dunbar, who was upset that Sims threw him to the ground after the whistle. “I can’t let him sling me around like I’m a little doll…I got sick of it. I was kind of mad. I went after him.”
That scrappy attitude has made Dunbar one of coach Jason Garrett’s favorites. But the second-year player from North Texas knows he must do more than stand up to linebackers to win the competition to back up DeMarco Murray that began after the Cowboys released Felix Jones in the offseason.
Fifth-round rookie Joseph Randle and third-year pro Phillip Tanner are also vying for the job, and Jerry Jones suggested after the draft Randle would likely wind up with the job.
“I want to establish myself every time I go on the field,” Dunbar said. “I want to show them I can play. It doesn’t matter if we had a draft pick or not.”
The speedy Dunbar earned a spot on the practice squad last year as an undrafted free agent. Dallas activated him in Week 5 and he played in the final 12 games, gaining 75 yards on 12 carries and averaging 21.8 yards on 12 kick returns.
After a strong start to camp, Dunbar started in the win over Miami in the preseason opener. In limited work before giving way to Tanner and Randle, Dunbar rushed for 22 yards on four carries and caught one pass for seven yards.
“He ran well,” Garrett said. “For a little guy, he’s not afraid to stick his nose in there and he certainly can capture the edge and make plays in space.”
But the other backs also impressed. Randle led Dallas with 70 yards on 13 carries. Tanner gained 59 yards on 10 attempts.
“He did a really good job staying within the scheme,” Garrett said of Tanner, “stretching the runs, cutting the runs up and then at the end of the runs he was physical.
“…He’s in competition to make this team, and he brings it every day. It was a really good night for him.”
The three backs face another test Friday night in Oakland.
“He’ll probably play a little bit more,” Garrett said of Dunbar, “and we’ll keep giving him opportunities to show what he can do.”
What Dunbar believes he can do is be another Darren Sproles, the New Orleans Saints’ diminutive all-purpose back.
“I study him,” said Dunbar, a New Orleans native. “I want to be similar to him…I can do it all.”
Garrett loves that can-do attitude.
“He gets better, every day and it really goes to the kind of young man he is, how important it is to him,” Garrett said. “He just works at it, and he has great juice, a bounce in his step all the time, a smile on his face. He loves to play football.”
Garrett said Dunbar is a natural in the passing game.
“He understands leverage, angles,” Garrett said. “He’s quick, explosive and can separate really well as a route runner.”
On the negative side, there’s his lack of size.
“Sometimes that causes problems in pass protection,” Garrett said. “But, again, he sticks his nose in there and blocks the guy. He fights hard.”
Just ask Sims.
Continue reading...
“It’s a fact,” the 5-foot-8, 188-pound Dallas Cowboys running back said. “I am a little guy.”
But his lack of size doesn’t mean he isn’t willing to shoulder the chore.
“I don’t back down from anyone,” he said after a recent practice in Oxnard, Calif. “I’m up to the challenge. I’m not scared to stick my nose in there and hit somebody.”
That was evident Tuesday when Dunbar and linebacker Ernie Sims engaged in the first fight of camp.
“I got to protect myself,” said Dunbar, who was upset that Sims threw him to the ground after the whistle. “I can’t let him sling me around like I’m a little doll…I got sick of it. I was kind of mad. I went after him.”
That scrappy attitude has made Dunbar one of coach Jason Garrett’s favorites. But the second-year player from North Texas knows he must do more than stand up to linebackers to win the competition to back up DeMarco Murray that began after the Cowboys released Felix Jones in the offseason.
Fifth-round rookie Joseph Randle and third-year pro Phillip Tanner are also vying for the job, and Jerry Jones suggested after the draft Randle would likely wind up with the job.
“I want to establish myself every time I go on the field,” Dunbar said. “I want to show them I can play. It doesn’t matter if we had a draft pick or not.”
The speedy Dunbar earned a spot on the practice squad last year as an undrafted free agent. Dallas activated him in Week 5 and he played in the final 12 games, gaining 75 yards on 12 carries and averaging 21.8 yards on 12 kick returns.
After a strong start to camp, Dunbar started in the win over Miami in the preseason opener. In limited work before giving way to Tanner and Randle, Dunbar rushed for 22 yards on four carries and caught one pass for seven yards.
“He ran well,” Garrett said. “For a little guy, he’s not afraid to stick his nose in there and he certainly can capture the edge and make plays in space.”
But the other backs also impressed. Randle led Dallas with 70 yards on 13 carries. Tanner gained 59 yards on 10 attempts.
“He did a really good job staying within the scheme,” Garrett said of Tanner, “stretching the runs, cutting the runs up and then at the end of the runs he was physical.
“…He’s in competition to make this team, and he brings it every day. It was a really good night for him.”
The three backs face another test Friday night in Oakland.
“He’ll probably play a little bit more,” Garrett said of Dunbar, “and we’ll keep giving him opportunities to show what he can do.”
What Dunbar believes he can do is be another Darren Sproles, the New Orleans Saints’ diminutive all-purpose back.
“I study him,” said Dunbar, a New Orleans native. “I want to be similar to him…I can do it all.”
Garrett loves that can-do attitude.
“He gets better, every day and it really goes to the kind of young man he is, how important it is to him,” Garrett said. “He just works at it, and he has great juice, a bounce in his step all the time, a smile on his face. He loves to play football.”
Garrett said Dunbar is a natural in the passing game.
“He understands leverage, angles,” Garrett said. “He’s quick, explosive and can separate really well as a route runner.”
On the negative side, there’s his lack of size.
“Sometimes that causes problems in pass protection,” Garrett said. “But, again, he sticks his nose in there and blocks the guy. He fights hard.”
Just ask Sims.
Continue reading...